Closure and locking mechanism for mail-bags.



1,095,603, Patented May 5, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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J. G. STRADER.

CLOSURE AND LOOKING MECHANISM FOR MAIL BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.27, 1913.

Patented May 5, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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.; ED STATES rzrirnn' r onnion JULIUS c. srnannn, or MosLEYsJuNcrIoN, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To; MYRON n. scor'r, or MOSLEYS JUNCTION, VIRGINIA.

CLOSURE AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR MAID-BAGS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS G. STRADER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mosleys Junction, in the county of Powhatan and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closures and Looking Mechanism for Mail- Bags, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to mail bags and it more particularly relates to an improved form of closure and locking mechanism for mail bags.

One of the'objects of the invention is to provide a mail bag with a locking mechanism which is perfectly secure against tampering without detection.

Another object is to provide a mail bag with a closure and locking mechanism of this character which is adapted to be quickly and easily opened and is therefore provided with a series of locking mechanisms, all of which are united in one complete mechanism and adapted to be operated in unison, both in opening and in closing the mail bag.

In the accompanying drawings which supplement this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the top portion of a mail bag constructed in accordance with my invention, the locking mechanism being in its locked position; Fig. 2 is a View similar'to Fig. 1, except that the mail bag is in its un locked and open position; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, except that the locked casing is ripped open and turned back, so as to disclose the complete locking mechanism; Fig. 1 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3, the locking strap being removed; Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the mail bag contiguous to one of the locking buttons; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. .5, except that the locking button is turned at right angles to that shown in Fig. 5 and is illustrated in section; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmental view illusstrating a section of the locking strap and one of the locking buttons moving into its locking position; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, except that the locking button is in its unlocking position; Fig. 9 is a perspec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma -5,1914.- Application filed August 27,19'1s. Serial No. 786,983.

Fig. 10 is a View illustrating the looking but l ton in a position slightly in advance of its position shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a plan View showing a modified form of locking strap; and Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view on the line. l212 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13

enlarged elevational view of the metal strap shown in Figs. 11 and 12. i f

Referring to these drawings in which similar reference characters correspond with:

similar parts throughout the several views,

the mail bag comprises a front side 15fand a rear side 16, the upper end of thefront side being turned downward and having its edge disposed against the front surface of the bag and secured at 17 by stitching o r I other proper means, thereby providing [a recess or housing 18. Within this housing s].

disposed the locking strap 19, while extend ing through the housing is a series oflocki ing buttons 20, each of which is provided with a rivet-stud 20 which extends through the front element 15 and is engaged with washer 20 and has its end swaged or riveted against the inner surface of said washer: Each locking button comprises the 'lon'gi-f tudinal locking head 20, an elongated ing bolt 20, a neck 20 connecting the elements 20 and 20, and the said stud 20 A series of apertured plates 21 are secured to the element 15 within the housing 18,.aiidi the respective studs 20' extend therethrough, so as to provide a substantial and solid bear; ing for each of the buttons 20, so that'they may be easily rotated, and the turning bars 7 20 will not be retarded by their. enga e;

ment with the leather or other pliable: and

yieldable material from which the m'e mbers- 15 and 16 are constructed. The flap 17 outer wall of the housing is apertured for allowing the neck 20 to extend t at; through, so that the locking head is spaced apart fromthe element 17 asufiicient tance to allow the insertion therebetween of the upper end of edge portionf 16. of the rear member 16'. This element16iis U vided with a series of aperturesor slots 16? through which the head 20 Iliay pas'jff lyg and this upper end portion is turn at'vtii the element 17,

Substantially .iiierlel 'laia lation therewith, so that the heads 20 and necks 20 extend through said slots. The element 16 is reinforced by a series of pairs of oppositely disposed plates 22, each pair of plates being apertured or slotted and having their slots in registry with the respective slots 16 rivets or other proper securing means being employed for securing the plates 22 in position.

.The strap 19 is provided with a series of bottle-shaped apertures 19, said apertures each being relatively broad at one end and being narrow and elongated at its other end, as at 19. In other words, the end 19 of each aperture comprises a slot which is only wide enough to allow one of the turning bars or locking bars 20 to enter therein by moving longitudinally, while said looking bar may move laterally in the wider end of said recess 19. However, the strap 19 is moved with relation to the bar 23, rather than move the latter relative to the strap. A slotted plate 24 is secured to the strap by proper means, with its slot in registry with the slot 19 while a cam plate 25 is secured to the strap 19 at the major end of each recess 19, and each plate 25 has its edge contiguous to the aperture 19 formed with a cam surface 25 which is preferably in the shape of an obtuse angle, the apex of which is substantially in alinement with the center of the slot 19 and the center of the neck 20. The portion of each aperture 19 where the major and minor portions connect is formed on a compound curve, as illustrated at 19 and at one side of the aperture, contiguous to one of the compound curved surfaces 19 is secured aturner plate 26 having one end curved and pointed and extended inwardly of the aperture 19 in such relation with the turning bar 20 that the latter is in the path thereof when the strap 19 is moved longitudinally. Each end of the turning bar 20 is gradually curved toward its ends so as to move freely and smoothly against the cam surfaces 25 and the pointed end of the turner plate 26. The flap and the strap 19 are provided with normally registering longitudinal slots 16 and 19 respectively, these slots being adapt-- ed to receive a staple or loop 27, the latter being secured to the member within the housing 18' and extending through an aperture or slot 16 in the element 17. A rein forcing plate 19 is provided with a longitudinal slot which registers with the slot 19, for preventing the latter from becoming distorted and unduly enlarged. Jr lock or other proper securing means, as indicated at '28, may be passed through the staple 2? for securing the flap 16 and st ap 19 in fixed relation with one another and with the major portion of the mail bag at the point where elements 2? and 28 are attached. The

other portions of the flap 16 are secured in locked position by means of the buttons 20, which are actuated by the strap 19, for turning them transversely of the slots 10".

The locking mechanism is actuated as fol.- lows, viz: Considering the mail bag to be in its closed and locked position, as illustrated in Fig. 6, it is only necessary to pull the outwardly projecting end of the strap 19, so as to move the locking bar 20 out of engagement with the slot 19, into the positions successively shown in Figs. 10 and 8. Considering Fig. 10, it will be seen that when the bar 20 reaches the apex of the cam surfaces it will slide upon one of said cam surfaces, so as to turn the bar into the position illustrated in Fig. 8, and when in this position, it is seen that the heads 20 are in registry with the slots 16 so that they may be passed therethrough by a relative movement of the flap 16 into the position illustrated in Fig. 2, so that the mail bag is in its open position. Now, whenit is desired to lock the mail bag, the flap 16 is turned down in position shown in Fig. 5, so that the heads 20 and necks 20 extend through the slots 16 whereupon it is only necessary to move the strap 19 leftward, so as to bring the turner plates 26 into contact with the turning bars 20, as illustrated in Fig. 7, so that each turning bar is rotated through a sufficient arc to bring its upper rounded edge into contact with the curved inlet of the slot 19, and further leftward movement of the strap will seat each turning and locking bar 20 in. the contiguous slot 19 so as to securely hold it against rotation, and thereby hold the respective heads 20" in the locking position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6.

In order to conveniently and easily eficct the leftward movement of the strap 19, I provide a pull strap 29, provided with a ring 80. This strap is provided with a plate or stop member 31 on one end, and is 1novably secured to the strap 19 by means of a loop or metal strap 32, said strap 29 being slidable through said loop 32, so that it may be pulled out sufficiently to afford a convenient handle, and may be pushed inward out of the way.

When the locking buttons have been turned into their locking position, the registering recesses 19 and 16 are passed over the staple 27, and the locking member 22 is then inserted, so as to co-act with all of the locking buttons for securely fastening the flap 16 in closed position.

A vertical slot 1'? is provided in the front wall. of the casing 17 between the staple 27 and the series of buttons 20, and the strap 19 extends outwardly through this vertical slot, this outwardly projecting end being normally disposed between the casing and ferred form.

the outer flap 16, with its slot 19 in engagement with the staple 27, so that the projecting end of the strap may be moved laterally into and out of engagement with said staple 27.

In Figs. 11 and 12, I have shown amodified form of locking strap which is formed of a plurality of interlocked metallic wire members 33 and which have straight and parallel leg portions 34: having their free ends looped, as shown at 35 and engaged in the rear looped portions 36 of the member 33 immediately there-ahead. Each member 33 has a wide or body portion 37 near its rear end formed by bulging legs 34: outwardly in opposite directions to accommodate the turning bars 20, whereby said turning bars will be moved in the proper direction upon forward or rear movement of the strap. Between the loops 36 at the rear of each member 33 is an inwardly or forwardly directed loop 38, the point of which extends to the large or body portion of said member 33. The last member 33 is not provided with the looped portions 36 and the forward or free looped ends 35 of the first member 33 are engaged with the looped ends 39 of the elongated wire fastener 40 which has its main portion engaged through the inner looped end of the leather strap 41. A leather strap 41 has a plate 42 secured upon one face and provided with the staple 27 corresponding to the staple 27 in the preferred form. It will be readily seen that different curvatures are given to the loops 37 on the upper and lower wires 34:, respectively, whereby the lower one serves the same function as the turner plate 26. The pull strap 29, in this form, is engaged through the metal strap 32 and has the ring 30 on one end, the same as in the pre- In this modified form, however, one rivet 43 is employed for securing the upper half of the loop in proper position upon the lower half and the end of said upper half is bent downwardly, as shown at for engagement against the side of the looped end of the member 33 to which the last member 33 is secured, thereby preventing turning of the metal strap 32. The bottom plate of the strap 32- is extended beneath the next to the last member 33 and secured to the same by the rivet 45 which is engaged through the forwardly directed loop 38, as clearly shown in Fig. 11. The extended portion of the lower plate of the strap member 32 is also provided on one edge with a laterally projecting loop 46 which extends between the looped forward ends 35 of the last member 33, thereby assisting in holding the metal strap 32 rigid and preventing turning of the same.

The operation of the parts is the same as the corresponding parts shown in the preferred form and, therefore, it is believed that further description of the modified form shownin Figs. 11 and 12 is unnecessary.

It will be seen that I have provided a bag closing and locking mechanism of this character which is fully capable of attaining the desired and previously specified objects in athoroughly practical and efficient manner.

While the accompanying drawings illustrate what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but that various changes may be made inthe construction, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

That I claim is 1. The combination in a mail bag, of a front member-having its upper edge apertured and turned down and secured so as to form a housing, a rear member having its upper edge portion slotted and adapted to be turned down with its slots in registry with the apertures of the front member, a series of buttons rotatably secured to said front member and extending through the apertures of said housing and adapted to be extended through said slots, a staple secured to said front member, an aperture in the wall of said housing through which said staple extends, a vertical slot between the first said series of apertures and the last said aperture, and an apertured strap extending through said vertical slot and having its apertures in engagement with said buttons, said strap being provided with means for turning said buttons when it is moved longitudinally, so that they may be alternately passed through said slots and turned transversely thereof, for unlocking and alternately locking the mail bag.

2. A mail bag locking mechanism comprising a series of buttons ro-tatably mounted adjacent to the mouth of the mail bag, a slotted flap adapted to be turned over the mouth of the mail bag into engagement with said buttons, an apertured and longitudinally movable strap through the apertures of which the buttons extend, said strap being provided with means for simultaneously turning the buttons into locking position and with means for securing them in looking position and with means for turning the serving to turn the buttons simultaneously whereby the movable member is held against movement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JULIUS G. STRADER.

apertures of which the buttons extend, the walls of the apertures serving to turn the buttons simultaneously into looking position upon movement of the movable member in one direction the Walls of the apertures Witnesses MYRON SCOTT,

out of looking position upon reverse move- Gnonon SCOTT.

ment of the movable member, and means Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

